Mourners filed through Damascus on Friday, a day after an explosive device detonated in a cafe in the Syrian capital, killing 10 people. The funeral procession in the Midan neighborhood carried the coffins of three of the victims.
Another 21 people were wounded in the explosion at the popular cafe, which was frequented by lawyers and located near the capital's main judicial complex. Syria's Health Ministry confirmed the updated death toll on Friday.
Officials have promised to apprehend those responsible for the attack, but no updates were provided regarding the investigation. No group has claimed responsibility for the incident.
Bahaa Qabbani, whose brother Fathi Qabbani was killed in the blast while passing the cafe, described the perpetrators as "a group of terrorists who are against the homeland." He urged security forces to "take hold of the country with an iron fist."
While the perpetrators remain unidentified, some funeral attendees quickly blamed loyalists of former President Bashar Assad, who was ousted in December 2024. During the procession, some mourners chanted, "The people want remnants of the former regime to be executed."
Separately, Syria's state-run news agency SANA reported that three security force members were injured in an attack on a checkpoint at the entrance to the Damascus suburb of Jaramana on Friday. Authorities stated that a man on a motorcycle threw two hand grenades at the guards before a third grenade exploded in his hand, killing him. Another individual was arrested in connection with this attack, according to SANA.
Since the overthrow of the Assad dynasty, Syria's new leadership has faced challenges in establishing control across the country and combating extremist groups. The Islamic State group has been blamed for previous deadly attacks targeting religious minorities, including a suicide attack on a church in a Damascus suburb and a bomb in a mosque in Homs.